大和調子・阿字観 / Yamato-chōshi, Ajikan

虚竹禅師奉讃2022年11月6日 Myōan-ji, November 6th 2022 Kyochiku-zenji Hōsan-kai Ajikan is now one of the most famous Shakuhachi pieces. It is an arrangement done by Miyagawa Nyozan 宮川如山 (1868-1946) of the piece Sashi 薩慈. The contemporary practice of playing Yamato-chōshi as a kind of prelude started with Tani Kyōchiku 谷狂竹 (1882-1950) who is famously known as the "Last Komusō". Ajikan translates into "Contemplation on the Syllable A", a meditation practice in the esoteric Shingo school of Japanese Buddhism. The piece is also known as Aji-no-kyoku 阿字の曲 and it is here played on a 2.5 Shakuhachi made by myself.